Vincent J. Novara

On Tuesday, June 18, the Stephan Archives hosted a full-day workshop on project management for archival processing.  Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), the workshop drew more than 25 archival professionals from the mid-Atlantic region, including staff from Columbia University, Bucknell University, and the Library of Congress, as well as Stephan Archives staff.  Speaker Vincent J. Novara, Curator of Special Collections in Performing Arts at the University of Maryland’s Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, introduced workshop participants to basic techniques and common tools for project management as adapted to an archives setting.  Attendees learned methods of prioritizing projects, creating detailed work plans and task schedules for staff, managing communication among project team members, and methods of tracking the progress of complex projects.

The workshop is one of several professional development opportunities offered annually by MARAC to archivists in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Begun in 1972, MARAC is a volunteer, regional consortium of archivists who live and work in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia, and in the District of Columbia. More than 1,000 members belong to the organization, representing government agencies, academic institutions, churches, businesses, historical societies, libraries, museums, and professional associations.  With a central mission of education and professional development, MARAC offers high quality conferences and advanced workshops at lowered prices thanks to the volunteer efforts of speakers and hosting institutions.